VLADIVOSTOK, Russia, July 23 (Xinhua) -- "I know that people from China's
Sichuan province like chili and rice, so our priority is to make sure every kid
can have them everyday," said Vitaly Marzoev, director of the All-Russia
Children's Care Center, in an interview with Xinhua Tuesday.
When the deadly earthquake that killed nearly 70,000 people in Sichuan
province took place in May, Marzoev was on vacation in Sanya, Hainan province in
southern China.
Upon hearing the disastrous news, he had made up his mind to invite some
children from quake-affected areas to his center for recovery. He wrote to
Russia's Ministry of Education and Science as soon as he ended the vacation and
finally made it.
According to Marzoev, to get delicious food for Chinese children was his
major concern. He even invited two Chinese cooks from Harbin in northeast China
to prepare dishes of Sichuan flavor, fearing that the kids might feel
uncomfortable with Russian food, he said.
Thanks to the Chinese cooks, the children now can have porridge and rice
everyday. But the center has found it necessary to invite more. So four other
Chinese cooks are on their way to the center.
Familiar chili and rice excited many students. However, Russian food such
as caviar and sashimi was still too foreign for some Chinese kids. So everyday,
Marzoev worked with his colleagues and experts to improve the menu. The center
has even ordered some cornflour to suit the children's taste.
When told that the Chinese children loved Russian honey, Marzoev and the
center immediately made the order from somewhere 600 km away, and had it on the
table at breakfast time for the children as soon as possible.
To ensure the Vitamin intake of the kids, the center offered them various
kinds of fruits, some of which were even specially ordered from northeast China.
At the request of Marzoev, the daily fruit supply is still on the rise.
Apart from careful considerations on meals, the center has also made
well-arranged preparations for the curriculums for the children, so that they
can fully rehabilitate themselves in a relaxed, easy atmosphere during their
stay in Russia.
"I hope that all kids can be optimistic and healthy when they leave for
home. I want them to have plenty of outdoor sports here, and remember this
place," said Marzoev.